CAPE TOWN: South African Trade and Trade and Industry Rob Davies told The BRICS Post in an exclusive interview on Thursday that South Africa’s trade ties with the BRICS members were vital, especially given the uncertainty about trade ties with the United Kingdom after the Brexit vote and an ongoing trade dispute with neighbour Zimbabwe, which unilaterally imposed restrictions on South African exports to Zimbabwe.
“Our trade ties with our BRICS partners are vital to our economy’s health as they are our largest trading partners. That is why I look forward to engaging with the other BRICS trade ministers later this year in India, as well as at the G20 Summit in China,” Davies said. Responding to a question about Brexit, the South African Trade Minister said Pretoria expects to replicate its successful EU trade deal with the UK following its shock vote to leave the European Union.
“I have corresponded with the British ambassador and met with the British trade minister recently at the G20 meeting in Shanghai. We aim to have as good a trade agreement as we have currently with the European Union and maybe some easing of phytosanitary restrictions on our agricultural exports,” he added. In 2015, South Africa sent 23% of its manufactured exports and 36% of its agricultural exports to the European Union including the UK.
The UK was the eighth largest trading partner of South Africa. On 10 June, the EU signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with South Africa that includes better trading terms mainly in agriculture and fisheries, such as for wine, sugar, fisheries products, flowers and canned fruits. Meanwhile, Davies also responded to anxiety about the growing impact of China’s economic slowdown on South Africa’s economy.
